What is feijoa and how to grow the fruit at home

Feijoa is a green berry with an oblong shape. South America is considered the birthplace of this berry. The diameter of feijoa is about six centimeters, and its weight is from 30 to 120 g. Height bush can reach four meters. The leaves are hard, oval-shaped, and dark green in color. The fruits of this plant are quite large, with the aroma of pineapple and strawberries. Feijoa contains essential oil, which has many beneficial properties.

Content:

• Beneficial properties of feijoa
• Growing at home
• Pests and diseases of feijoa

Beneficial properties of feijoa

The fruits of this plant are a source of vigor and good memory. They are also recommended for use in case of weakness and seasonal vitamin deficiency. Thanks to vitamin C, which is contained in the fruit, feijoa is excellent in treating colds. This plant can also be consumed if there is a lack of iodine in the body, since its fruits contain 36 mg of iodine per 100 g of its weight. Therefore, eating feijoa has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland. Due to the fact that iodine is very water-soluble, it is completely absorbed by the human body.

The plant contains many mineral substances that are so necessary for the human body. The peel of the fruit has a lot of tannins. Therefore, when indigestion occurs, decoctions of dry and crushed peels help well.The antioxidants contained in the fruit (catechin) help prevent the appearance of tumors. Feijoa also has the following beneficial properties:

• Preventing the development of cancer
• Improving attention and memory
• Strengthening the immune system
• Reducing blood cholesterol levels
• Update of blood composition
• Increase in hemoglobin in the blood
• Curing atherosclerosis

Fruit feijoa contain a lot of fiber, so they will be very beneficial for the gastrointestinal tract. As for contraindications, they practically do not exist. After all, allergies to these fruits are very rare. Feijoa is also not recommended for use if you have diabetes.

Growing at home

Despite the fact that feijoa grows in subtropical conditions, many gardeners successfully grow it in greenhouses, winter gardens and even in living rooms. Growing a plant at home is done in two ways: from seeds and cuttings. Seeds for cultivation are used only from ripe fruits, but in no case from overripe ones. It is also not recommended to take seeds from fruits that have already been stored for a certain time.

The selected seeds must be washed from the sticky mass in a solution of potassium permanganate. After washing, the seeds must be dried well. Soil for seeds must be loose and permeable. To prepare such soil, a mixture of leaf soil, river sand and high-moor peat is taken. To germinate seeds, do not select deep boxes.

Video on forming a feijoa tree:

Germination time is about a month in winter, and two weeks in summer. When four pairs of plants appear, they can already be replanted.When a plant is propagated in this way, not all maternal qualities may be transmitted. To take cuttings from a plant, you must first cut cuttings from semi-lignified shoots located in the middle part of the bush.

Ready cuttings are placed in a heteroauxin solution before planting. This is done to stimulate the growth of the cuttings. The soil for replanting is prepared from river sand and humus. For quick rooting, you can use moistened sand. When planting, take an ordinary flower pot with a ready-made substrate, into which the prepared cutting is planted.

The depth of its rooting is 2/3 of the entire length. Transplanted plants must be watered and sprinkled with ash (to prevent damage by fungal organisms).

Planted cuttings It is necessary to cover the top with plastic wrap. The rooting period for feijoa cuttings is about a month. If cuttings are carried out in the fall, the rooting period will last up to two months.

Pests and diseases of feijoa

Feijoa is very vulnerable to damage by the false scale insect. When exposed to this pest, leaves and young shoots are mainly affected. Due to the fact that the fruits lose a lot of juice, the plant loses strength and develops poorly. Therefore, as a result, the plant begins to shed its leaves en masse. To combat scale insects, use a mineral oil emulsion.

This work must be carried out before the start of a new growing season. As for mechanical methods pest control, then first of all soap spraying of the bushes is used. This type of cleaning should be carried out every five days for two months.